Kurdish leader Ocalan urges PKK disbandment, group ends armed struggle

Istanbul – 13 May 2025: Abdullah Ocalan urges PKK disbandment has reshaped Turkiye’s political landscape. The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) announced its disbandment. The decision follows a February appeal by Abdullah Ocalan, the group’s jailed founder. PKK leaders confirmed disarmament during their congress in northern Iraq.

Ocalan, known as “Appo,” had led the PKK since its founding in 1978. The group fought a bloody insurgency, seeking Kurdish autonomy in Turkiye.

More than 40,000 people died in the conflict, which included kidnappings, suicide attacks, and internal repression of Kurds. Ocalan’s 1999 arrest led to a life sentence. His political stance evolved by 2013, advocating autonomy over separatism.

The PKK’s 2025 disbandment statement claimed its mission succeeded in breaking state denial of Kurdish identity.

However, analysts point to shifting regional dynamics. U.S. disengagement from Syria and Ankara-Damascus cooperation weakened Kurdish armed groups. “The PKK no longer enjoys strategic depth in Syria,” said Sinan Ulgen, a Carnegie Europe fellow.

Meanwhile, the Turkish government may now embrace democratic solutions. In April 2024, MHP leader Devlet Bahceli invited Ocalan to renounce violence publicly. This surprising shift aims to help President Erdogan secure Kurdish support for an early election.

Under Turkiye’s constitution, Erdogan needs 360 parliamentary votes to call early polls. Kurdish lawmakers could provide this margin. Still, the question of Ocalan’s fate remains open. Experts suggest his prison conditions may improve gradually.

“The government will likely test public reaction before taking bold steps,” Ulgen said.

Though many still condemn Ocalan as a terrorist, Kurds see him as a rights icon. This story reflects ongoing developments.